The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-28
THE REYNOLDS CASE.
A Card From the Hon. James T.
FAINT, Of Holly Springs.
He Denies His Brother, Pres ten,
Had Any Part.tn the Assault
The Mayors Action.

To the Editor Of the Appeal;
HOLLY SPRINGS, MISS, September
26.-My attention has bean called to
certain publications in your paper OF
Sunday and today (Monday), in which,
referring to the unfortunate occurrence
Of Friday last, an injustice is done not
only me, but the mayor OF the town
and others. In today's Issue, after
certain illusions complimentary to
myself, your correspondent, referring
10 the citizens meeting OF Saturday,
says: "He (myself deeply deprecated
the part bis unfortunate brother had
played in the tragic event, and, so far
as his power goes, there will be no
further action on the part Of his
brother"
No such language was used by me.
On the contrary, / did not then know,
and had never heard, that Preston
FAINT was accused tf taking any part
In the III fjr!unate difficulty Of the day
before.
lam assured now, by gentlemen OF
unquestioned veracity, that he did not
guard the door, was not present at the
inception OF the difficulty, and was in
no way involved In the affair. The
officers who made the arrest inform
me that they saw nothing improper
on his part, and private citizen, who
was first on the ecene OF action, cup
ports Preston In the declaration that
the charge Is not true and that all he
did was to admonish some boys that
they had better keep out OF
there, as they might get hurt. /
have no personal knowledge Of the
facts, nor do i knew to what extent
Mr.. Reynolds secluded himself, or
was guarded Saturday night and Sun
day. He was pointed out to me Sun
day, or person said to be him, on his
way to church, quietly travelling the
sire cts as other persons do. His
guards, be they young ladies or men,
we're not then with him, and / infer
that he was not afraid. After the sp.
pearsnce Of his publication Saturday
afternoon deDouncing Preston FAINT,
/ went to some OF my friends and
asked them TO urge him 10 20 home,
10 feared my brother would resent
the afiront offered him by the publ.
cation. II guard was necessary /
did not know II, and do not yet be
lieve the men OF our town would dele.
gate such duties to young ladies.
In Sundays issue your correspond
ent makes the broad assertion that
after the assault on Reynolds by T. 4.
Sigmap, be (Sigman) went around TO
Mayor Fani's Office aud submitted
what he had done. The mayor did
not fiue him a cent"
This statement 10 untrue. Mr.. Sig.
man did 20 before the mayor after the
occurrence and submit his case, but
nc action vas taken until an affidavit
was made againet him.
Saturday morning the matter wa
investigated, and Il appearing that nc
weapons were used, bat that the affair
In common psrlsnce, on Slgman's par
was "fist fght," he was convicted o
an assault and battery and fined. A
IL Q came time fine was also imposed
for q violation Of the town ordinanc,
prohibiting fighting In the corporation
This judgment was at once entered OF
the docket OF the court, the writer say
: sand read II Saturday morning, and !
was then and 10 now open to the In
spection OF the world.
On the afternoon OF Friday, wheI
Meesrs. julie signan and Wilkersol
assaulted Rey nolds, an sffair regrelte,
and condtmntd by all, and by non
more than by Mayor FAINT, the sherii
Immediately arrested the parties ar
carried them before the mayor. ii
stated that perhaps their Cfsns
would assume the grade Of felony
and denied 10 take final jurisdiction {
the eaie, but caused the parties TO or
ter into bond for their appearance
the October term Of the Circuit CourI
which convene, next Monday, 10 a.
svtr any bill that may be prefer c
by the grand jury. do not htsItal
10 gay that this was wise, conservatly
action on his part, and will meet N
conscientious approval Of Any homes
law abiding man.
A meeting was called Saturds
morning 10 consider what action wi
proper 10 be taken In view Of the ri
fortunate occurrence OF the day pr
viouf. That meeting wac address
by the writer and others. Instead
making the remarks printed In Mo
days APPEAL, l did say, substsntiall
that while the occurrences were 20
regretted and deplored, the q
GERS OF the law had acted promptly
arresling the parties, that they we
then In custody awaiting trial, on
any action taken in q public meetir
by an aroused apd excited communi
might be pfejudicial 10 them, and 90
onded Judge Watson's motion 10 a
point committee 10 report at ca
sequent meeting.
A committee OF ten citizens was al
pointed 10 report 10 an adjourn,
meeting tonight. take Il
granted you will be furnished with n
proceedings Of this meeting Che
proceedings we're printed In the A
PEAL Of yesterday.-Etl
Ihave studiously avoided any reis
ence 10 the editorial Of Me-. Rsynol
In which the board Of mayor and
dermen were severely and, as / thin
uuIustly denounced. lido not propo
10 comment on II now, except 70 Q
that a fair aud honest criticism Of &
acts Of public flieials Ia always
order, and Il is also true n
70 insinua,e, Islander or deal
eplthets is always upgentlemar
/ believe In fair play. am the 0
of the mayer Of Holly Springs, aud
IL Preston FAINT The oouespondei
Of the Memphis papers at ttis pli
seem determined the great put
shall know this fact. This will !
preclude me, / hope, from giving
lacls In regard 10 an old man who Q
ri1s TIN burden Of eighty years, "
has lived Ia this community Tor nea
sixty Year,, who has been homo
with the confidence OF his people
matters Of Church aud State,
elected mayor OF Holly Springs
tlmee in succession. II he has &C
n dIahenorably. or done ANYTHING 10